Memantine hydrochloride in the treatment of dementia subtypes.

Memantine hydrochloride is a first-line therapeutic drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). We conducted a review of the literature to determine the changes to the central glutamatergic neurotransmitter system in dementia subtypes and the available clinical evidence regarding the use of memantine in the treatment of different dementia subtypes. We conclude from our review that memantine may be an effective therapeutic option in managing AD, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease dementia and vascular dementia. When a diagnosis of the dementia subtype cannot be clearly identified or when there is no clear therapeutic option, memantine may be simple and safe.